Ore-separator.



No. 67I,573. Patented Apr. 9, IBM.

F, H. A. WIELGOLASKL ORE SEPARATOR.

[Applicatiqn' msa Aug. 25, 1899.)

(No Model.)

11:: norms PEYERS cc PucYo-Lh'ua, WASHINGTON. u. c.

ilurrn *rrns a'rn'r FEQEQ ERANS HENRIK AUBERT WIELGOLASKI, OF CHRISTIANIA, NORWAY.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671.573, dated April 9, 1901.

Application filed August 25, 1899. Serial No. 728,494. (No modei.)

' liquids.

The difficulties in the mechanical separation of finely-divided solids from the liquid in which they are held in suspension are well known, and these difficulties are apparently due to the fact that the behavior of the finelydivided particles is different from that of par ticles of measurable dimensions. Experiments made by me with such finely-divided substances held in suspension in wateras, for instance, elutriated substances have shown the impossibility of effecting the separation of the constituents by centifuga-l action in machines as generally constructed; and my invention has for its object a method of and apparatus for effecting this separation by centrifugal action.

I have found that when a liquid holding in suspension a finely-divided solid is simply caused to How by centrifugal action in the direction in which the centrifugal forces are exerted a separation of the finer particles cannot be effected. I have discovered, however, that if a liquid is caused to flow in a direct-ion opposite to that in which the centrifugal forces are exerted and caused to intercept the stream of liquid holding the finelydivided solid in suspension the particles of solid will separate from such liquid and flow in opposition to the intercepting liquid in the direction in which the centrifugal forces are exerted and can thus be effectually and readily separated in a centrifugal machine of proper construction. I have furthermore discovered that if the exhaust or ejection orifice in the periphery of the centrifugal is contracted to substantially a mere slit but little liquid will be ejected from said orifice with the solid particles, and I have furthermore discovered that the separation will be materially expedited by causing the solid particles after flowing through and with a portion after flowing in a direction opposite to that in which the centrifugal forces are exerted to flow likewise in an upward direction and then in the direction in which said centrifugal forces are exerted, the'solid particles and the liquid from which they are separated, together with the intercepting liquid, being ejected from the centrifugal at different elevations.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown by a vertical section so much of a centrifugal machine constructed to carry out my invention as will suffice for a full understanding thereof.

The body or shell of the centrifugal ma chine consists of a cylindrical upper portion 0 and a circular lower portion 0 of considerably greater diameter than said upper portion 0, the periphery of said lower portion 0 being inclined inwardly; In the lower portion 0' of the shell is formed a circular chamber 0, extending along the bottom from near the axis of the shell to its periphery and thence in an upward direction and gradually widening into trumpet shape in cross-section and comm n nicating with a dischargepassage a and a circular chamber B, respectively, which latter comm uuicates with a vertical discharge-passage b, said passages a and 17 having their outlets in the periphery of the upper cylindrical portion 0 of the centrifugal at different elevations, the outlet of passage I) being above the outlet of passage or and the outlet for the latter passage being contracted to form in vertical section a nozzle havinga comparatively narrow dischargeopening. In said lower portion 0' of the centrifugal is formed still another circular chamber D between the chambers O and B and communicating through a gradually contracted passage d with said chamber B at a point substantially midway of its inner and outer terminals. As shown, the chamber 0 is of considerably greater vertical sectional area than the chamber D, and the inner vertical wall of the two chambers is extended upwardly above the bottom of said chambers suspension a finely-divided solid to chamber D through pipes O and D, respectively,

Whose cross-sectional areas are proportionate to the vertical sectional area of said chambers. It will be observed that the discharge-passage b is of less cross-sectional area than that of the chamber B and that said passage 1) is eccentric to a passage 1), connecting passage with chamber B.

- The vertical sectional areas of chambers 13 C D, passages a 1), outlet of passage a,-and feed-pipes C D will of course have to be Varied in accordance with the specific gravity of the material to be separated from a liquid holding the same in suspension in order to insure a sufficiently energetic flow of intercepting liquid through the chamber B and in order to insure a proper rate of discharge of the separated material and the liquids.

In operation the liquid holding the sub stance in suspension is fed, as above stated, through pipe D to chamber D, and another liquid, as water, for instance, is fed through pipe 0 to chamber 0, thus establishing antagonizing currents in chamber B, whereby and under the centrifugal action a separation of the heavier particles is eifected, which particles move in the direction in which the censmall proportion of liquid will find its way out of said passage, and the bulk of the liquid and the very light particles of solid, even if of greater specific gravity than water, will be ejected through passage 1).

' by Letters Patent, is-

It will be observed that the construction of the chambers and passages is such as to facilitate the flow of liquid therethrough.

The described method and apparatus, as will readily be seen, may be used for many purposes in the arts and manufactures and are also available for the separation-from s0- lutions of solids of undissolved parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure 1. In a centrifugal machine, means for feeding a washing fluid from the center, a chamber provided with reverse branch passages,

a passage conducting liquid into one of said reversepassages in a direction opposite to the flow of the washing'fluid therein, and means for feeding material to be separated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a chamber carrying washing fluid, a pair of branching reverted passages at its outer end, a chamber arranged to receive material to be separated, and a passage leading from the latter chamber to one of said reverted passages,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a centrifugal machine, a chamber carrying-washing fluid, a pair of superposed branching reverted passages at its outer end,

'a chamber arranged to'receive material to be separated, and a passage leading from the latter chamber to the lower reverted passage,

substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a centrifugal machine, a chamber receiving a washing fluid, a pair of superposed branching reverted passages from its outer end, continuous vertical passages from each, discharging radially at different elevations,

a chamber arranged to receive material to be separated, a passage leading from the latter chamber to the lower reverted passage and an eccentric chamber formed in said passage, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

FRANS HENRIK AUBERT WIELGOLASKI.

Witnesses:

J OH. VAALER, AUGUST OLsEN. 

